Overholser Family Association

What a weekend! The 2025 Overholser Family Reunion brought together cousins from near and far for another year of shared stories, family history, and good food.

We heard opening remarks from former OFA President Michael Martin, a Treasurer’s Report from Geoffrey Martin, and a motion was passed to move a portion of OFA funds into a CD to help the association earn a better return. OFA Secretary Thomas Armstrong shared a fantastic slideshow featuring rare historical photos of Oberholz, Switzerland—the ancestral village where it all began.

We also discussed the possibility of shifting the annual reunion date, with ideas ranging from alternate Saturdays to Sundays or even late July. A membership survey will be going out soon to gather everyone’s input.

Pastor Mel Weaver gave a thoughtful presentation on the roots of Anabaptism, followed by some live musical performances and a second talk from Mel to close out the afternoon. We capped it all off with the traditional group photo (below!).

A more detailed recap—along with the reunion date survey—will be arriving via email in the next week. In the meantime, feel free to tag yourselves and your relatives in the photo and drop a memory or favorite moment from the weekend in the comments.

Hope to see you next year!

Hello from the 2024 Overholser Family Association Reunion! Wish you were here! Will have details for next year’s reunion soon.

Hello from the 2023 OFA Reunion!

We are sorry to report the death of Nan Oberholtzer of East Earl, PA. OFA members who have attended reunions may have visited Nan's unique country store, Obie's, located in Goodville. She carried an extensive inventory of fabric in addition to selling locally made quilts and quilted products. Nan is survived by a sister Wanda and brother Kim.

This question was submitted by John Frey:
Oberholser Family members of the Samuel line may be interested in an article from the January 2021 issue of Pennsylvania Mennonite Heritage pages 15-23. The article is about the genealogy of the Good family, but on page 19 of this article is a picture of a painting of a ship entitled “Molly (1806 painting attributed to Robert Willoughby of Hull)”. The article discusses the arrival of the ship Molly in Philadelphia on September 27, 1727. This is the same ship that brought Samuel Oberholtzer to Philadelphia. The article doesn’t provide any citation on where this painting can be found. Has anyone else ever seen a painting of the Molly that brought Samuel Oberholtzer to America?